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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

I wrote this post this morning. It looks like an appropriate time to post it, with the Flames behind 5-2 going into the third. Hell, even if they come back to win tonight, it's appropriate.

Consistency. It's the key to winning hockey games. Consistently play from shift to shift, period to period, game to game. It's the one thing you have to have to win - and it's the one thing the Calgary Flames have lacked all season.

They'll play a garbage first period, but a brilliant 2nd and 3rd. They'll play fantastic hockey on Saturday, and then crap the bed on Monday. Fans and players are at a loss to explain it. In fact, there's only one person who NEEDS to be able to explain it: The man who gets paid to make sure they have it - Mike Keenan.

Mike has no idea how to explain it. Which is unfortunate - since it's his job.

All season long, Keenan has been at a loss to explain the lack of consistency. He's been quoted saying things like:"I can't explain it.""I don't know why.""It's hard to explain.""We're at a loss."

Well, Mike, here's the thing: You were hired to be the Flames coach on the heels of a first-round exit during last year's playoffs. You were brought it to coach a team that had played brilliant hockey at home, but couldn't play well on the road. In short, they were lacking in consistency. So they brought you in, as the third coach in 3 years. To bring some consistency, put them over the top, and take them to the Stanley Cup.

I don't think you're going to do it.

Kiprusoff is one of the best, if not THE best, goalies on the planet Earth. Dion Phaneuf, as I write this, has just been nominated as a finalist for the Norris Trophy - in his third year in the NHL. Jarome Iginla is the best all-around hockey player in the world. Regehr, Langkow, Huselius, Tanguay - these are all top line (or at the very least top 6) talents on every team in the NHL. The Flames are an incredible team on paper.

If they aren't an incredible team on the ice, then the blame falls on one man. The coach.

Mike Keenan is the problem with the Calgary Flames. And until they find someone who can "explain the problem", and FIX it, this phenomenally talented team will ALWAYS be hit-and-miss. But while they should be competing for Stanley Cups, they'll be clawing to get into the playoffs, and then clawing to advance.

1 comment:

Styles
said...

When Playfair was fired (and subsequently rehired as an assistant coach), I told anyone who would listen that it was a huge mistake. He was a rookie head coach and given time he could "right the ship". It's not that I don't like Keenan. In fact, I'm a big fan of "Iron" Mike so it had nothing to do with him. Frankly, I didn't feel it was coaching that let the team down in 06/07 nor do I feel it was the problem this year either. Asides from Kipper, Iginla, and Phaneuf, not one player in that locker room can look at themself and say that they consistantly helped the team throughout the entire season. Until the Flames' acquire players who are hungry to win EVERY game, this team will always be a paper champion.

Who Is The Enlightened Savage?

The Enlightened Savage (Joey Oberhoffner) is a 40 year-old, life-long Albertan with one foot in each of the private (small business owner) and public (provincial public service) sectors. He is a self-confessed political junkie/policy wonk, with a sometimes disturbing affinity for Montreal Smoked Meat, gadgets, and well-written television.

Joey began blogging in late 2006 under the nom de plume of "The Enlightened Savage", and rapidly became well-known as an even-handed analyst of municipal and provincial political issues. He offered in-studio commentary on CBC Radio One for Municipal Election Night 2007, did analysis for the 2010 Municipal Election and the 2011 Federal Election, and appeared in-studio on CityTV for analysis of the results on Provincial Election Night 2008.

Joey also writes at and is a founding contributor for CalgaryPolitics.com.

Hate-mail, love letters, and offers of support for his campaign to change politics for the better can be sent to amishbuggyracing (at) gmail (dot) com.

All opinions expressed on this blog are those of the author himself, and are not meant in any way to reflect the opinions of any organization for which he either works or volunteers.

Perfecting Alberta

Joey O's Policy Points

"This guy is obviously a raging leftist - how can he possibly call himself a conservative?"

THIS is how. Because the public policies I advocate for are conservative - and I don't have to support your chosen right-wing politician or pet issue to be allowed to use the name "conservative".

- Fixed Provincial Election Dates (I'm leaning towards the second Monday of May, every 4 years. Would VERY rarely come into contact with a late Easter, otherwise it's smooth sailing...)

- Full Disclosure of Donors and their Contribution amounts at all levels of elected office, including internal party races, BEFORE the votes are cast - we deserve to know who's funding the war chests of our would-be leaders. And none of this "numbered corporation" crap either.

- A fully funded and independent Auditor General

- Economic diversification. Even a five-year old knows it's a bad idea to carry all your eggs in one basket.

- Making Alberta's Oilsands the standard bearer for environmental sensitivity while also making them the most sought-after business opportunity for large and mid-size operators in North America.

- Getting our energy products to market and getting a global price for them by working with our neighbours, rather than throwing tantrums and accomplishing nothing.

- Promotion of eco-tourism as a way to showcase the unique character of Alberta's landscape and people and boosting local economies.

- Capping government program spending increases from year to year at the rate of inflation plus population growth.

- Making the MLA "Tax-Free Allowance" just that - an allowance. Anything that isn't spent on expenses related to their work (e.g. rent in Edmonton, vehicular or transportation costs, hospitality) should be returned to the provincial treasury, or taxed as income.

- More recorded votes and fewer in camera sessions at all levels of government. The work of our governments should be public and indexable unless there is a clear reason why it shouldn't be.